PETpla.net Insider 12 / 2011

PRODUCTS 30 PET planet insider Vol. 12 No. 12/11 www.petpla.net Mann+Hummel launches new monitoring software Mann+Hummel ProTec has announced the launch of microprocessor- controlled visualisation software for the new generation of stationary material drying facilities. The company says that it enables the energy-efficient Somos D dry air dryer and its associated drying hoppers to be centrally monitored and administered. It allows easy access and alignment of individual controls from a central location in response to changes in processing parameters, for example. Mann+Hummel says that the software has been designed for the monitoring of a modular hopper installation consist- ing of up to ten drying hoppers whose controls can each operate two conveyor machines – one for filling and one on the processing machine – making it possible to control up to 31 individual machines. The central visualisation software ena- bles expansion of drying facilities, from less than 31. www.mann-hummel.com Holland extends UV protection range While the UV spectrum relevant to PET packaging extends from 200 to 400nm, PET itself only absorbs up to 320nm. Additional UV protec- tion must be added to packag- ing of products such as beer, juices , energy drinks and vitamin-enhanced beverages, as well as household clean- ers and dish washing liquids. Most commercially available UV absorbers extend the level of coverage to 370nm, which is sufficient for many products including some commonly used ingredients. However, some food colorants and vitamins, when used in com- plex formulations, show an increased sensitivity and can have an unexpected negative influence on others, leading to decreased product integrity, losses in functionality and colour and shorter product shelf life. Extensive, time- consuming and costly testing can be required to determine exact protection requirements. Holland Colours says that a PET package with UV protection optimised in the container wall can provide increased flexibility in formulating with components that are known to be somewhat UV sensitive but for which the matrix effects are unknown. The need to use stabilisers in the product itself may also be eliminated, enabling the use of more natural components. Holland Colours has introduced a series of absorbers that can provide UV protection in a specific range. Calculation models are available to determine the required dosing level and resulting additive cost as a function of container wall thickness and UV protection requirements. www.hollandcolours.com KHS preform sterilisation method for ultra-clean applications A new method for sterilising preforms from KHS eliminates the need for traditional upstream PET bottle sterilising and rinsing, by sterilising at pre- form stage. The company says this saves the costs of a rinser and rinse water. Sterilising the preform involves a significantly smaller area than a finished PET bottle and reduces the amount of sterilising agent needed. KHS claims that the method is suit- able for ultra-clean applications. It is intended for use in the company’s InnoPET BloFill stretch blow moulder/filler monoblock. A newly-developed sterile chamber module is installed in the heater area, fol- lowing the initial preform heating process. A sterile air airlock separates the chamber at both preform feed and discharge ends from the remaining heater area. This prevents germs from entering, while contain- ing the hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) sterilising agent. The risk of corrosion in adjacent machine areas is eliminated, as well as hazards to machine operators from discharged H 2 O 2 . Preforms are sterilised inside the chamber module by a mixture of hot air and H 2 O 2 and are subsequently flooded with sterile air, to remove any surface remnants of H 2 O 2 . The preforms then travel to another heating chamber for precise preheating, which KHS says enables the optimal distribution of materi- als throughout the PET bottles during the stretch blowing process, enabling very lightweight bottles. The preforms are transferred to the blowing process through a housing containing sterile air, to eliminate any risk of contamination. The freshly-blown bottles pass through a similar housing at the discharge end, to ensure that materials are sterile when they ultimately reach the ultra-clean filling area through a sterile air airlock. www.khs.com New Moretto hopper helps dehumidification Moretto’s new OTX Spyro hopper features a novel shape that, the company says, helps to solve ‘falling flow’ problems and allows more efficient management and control of the drying process inside the hopper. The configuration provides an homogeneous airflow and temperature, which provides optimal treatment of the granules. It is also claimed to reduce energy costs, compared with conventional hoppers. Moretto says that the new hopper’s shockproof Spyro finishing makes it more resistant to damage. www.moretto.com